Position Title:Business Service Specialist

Department:Workforce Development

Reports to:Director of Chicago Housing Authority Program

Position Summary:

Under the supervision of the Chicago Housing Authority Program Director, the Business Service Specialist develops and provides a range of employment, labor market and business-related services primarily to clients in the Chicago Housing Authority Workforce Program with the goals of job placement, job retention and career pathway services to increased household income for increased self-sufficiency.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Meet with businesses to promote workforce development services and assess businesses current hiring needs.
• Assist businesses in finding qualified candidates for open and open positions
• Educate employers about services provided by UCAN’s Workforce Development System.
• Enter updated job orders into the internal database.
• Disseminate job orders to career specialists.
• Educate staff on resources available for jobseekers to develop skills needed for the industry.
• Provide job placement and career services for the following programs for Chicago Housing Authority.
• Interview & screen candidates for potential job placement and manage caseload of clients for placement services.
• Identify skill requirements of available jobs and match job seekers to openings.
• Recruit employers to provide work-based learning services for customers.
• Achieve planned performance goals and report program performance results.
• Assist job seekers by providing information on growth industries and job opportunities in the area.
• Implement and maintain labor market marketing materials promoting various industries.
• Assist job seekers and businesses in using the Illinois Worknet System, America’s Job Bank and other internet job placement programs.
• Conduct career development sessions and confidence-building activities.
• Provide re-employment services to job seekers, including job readiness repeats, interview training, resume rewrites and Job Club.
• Provide retention services to businesses that help employees stay on the job.
• Established and maintain relationships with employers creating a concurrent job order to distribute to potential candidates
• Utilize a wide variety of methods to generate candidates, including internal and external networking, job fairs and referral program
• Targets client needs to increase employment outcomes, including consistent employment for those sporadically employed and employment skills for those with little or no work history.
• Develops and maintains relationships and communication with a wide range of Chicagoland businesses and employers that will partner with UCAN as resources for internships and job
• Inventories client interest in various job opportunities based on market availability and refers clients to jobs in areas of
• Collects, organizes and analyzes information about clients through records, tests, interviews and professional sources to appraise their needs, interests, abilities and personality characteristics for vocational and educational counseling, job training and job
• Compiles and studies occupational, educational, economic, and personal developmental information to aid clients in making and carrying out occupational and vocational objectives to meet their
• Establishes and maintains potential employer contacts to ensure placement opportunities for clients who have successfully completed training or are at the appropriate skill level.
• Solicits job openings and establishes job interviews with clients; supports clients during the interview process and job orientation and performs follow-up, as
• Advises and consults with case management staff towards integration of employment activities with other program
• Keeps organized and accurate records on job training, placement and retention for all clients who participated in employment related
• Maintains current knowledge through participation in training sessions, seminars, conferences,
• Refer applicants to services such as literacy, language instruction, transportation assistance vocational training and
• Work with employers to ensure that the new employee is performing satisfactorily and is retained in the new
• Coordinate hiring events and jobs fairs for clients that will result in job
• Facilitate and analyze mentoring workshops and job training classes to clients to ensure successful employment
• Engage clients in career planning, addressing issues of career advancement, career change and exploring education steps necessary to obtain jobs within career
• Monitor and report the employment status and salary of all Chicago Housing Authority clients monthly, highlighting their 30-, 60-, 90-, and 180-day milestones.
• Work with the client's case manager to address issues external to the workplace, impacting performance and job retention.
• Develop and implement a retention incentive
• Performs other related tasks as required or

Professionalism and Work Conduct

• Behaves with integrity, demonstrates high ethical standards, and displays a positive image of
• Acts professionally and maintains appropriate boundaries with clients.
• Demonstrates accountability for results and keeps commitments to
• Reports to work, meetings, training, and job-related activities prepared and as
• Demonstrates openness and respect for cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of clients and
• Accepts feedback and ideas from team and supervisor and is constructive when giving feedback and ideas to
• Discusses alternative problem solving and is open to innovative ideas and ways of doing
• Performs other related tasks as assigned or

Education/Job Experience/Certification:

Level I:

• Bachelor's Degree in Social Work, Human Services, Education, Human Resources or Business required.
• Minimum of two years of experience working in human services, education, job training, vocational services or sales and knowledge of labor market.

Special Knowledge and Qualifications:

• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Is open and respectful of cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of clients and is willing and competent to work with a diverse client
• Experience working with teenagers and young
• Experience or ability to use computers for data entry, communication and report
• Must possess vehicle and current, valid driver's license and

Position Status:Exempt

Work Environment:

This position requires work in the community

This position requires work in the evenings and weekends.